Invasive Species Week 2017

27 March to the 2 April 2017 marks Invasive Species Week.

The background to this campaign is as recent as 2015 when the GB Non-native Species Secretariat (NNSS) and DEFRA launched the first Invasive Species Week, bringing together a range of organisations to raise awareness of invasive non-native species and inspire people to #GetINNSvolved and stop the spread.

What is an invasive non-native species? An invasive non-native species is any non-native animal or plant that has the ability to spread causing damage to the environment, the economy, our health and the way we live. They are also frequently referred to as alien species.

What’s the problem with invasive species? Invasive non-native species have the potential to cause significant harm to our natural environment as well as costing landowners and tax payers thousands of pounds to remediate. It is estimated that £1.7 billion is spent trying to control and eradicate invasive species in the UK each year. Some non-native species carry diseases which can result in population declines of our own native fauna such as red squirrels and white clawed crayfish. Some non-native species can cause harm to human health such as giant hogweed which can trigger painful blisters when it comes into contact with exposed skin.